The Keeper & the Lady
[From: Shepheard, Peter. Folk Songs and Ballads of the Brazil Family of Gloucester (1967); (Springthyme 66.2.6, 7).
R. Matteson 2011]
The Keeper and the Lady- As sung by Danny Brazil of Gloucester on 5 January, 1966.
All for bold keeper in the search of his deers,
For the likes of bold keeper you seldom shall hear;
He courted a nobleman’s daughter so fair,
And you seldom shall hear of such doings.
“Now then, bold keeper, don’t you fancy me?
I’m a match for some Lord that’s higher than thee;
For your wealth and my wealth they never could agree,
So take that as an answer bold keeper.”
“That answer, fair lady, I never could take,
For the likes of that answer calls my heart to ache;
My life I would rather lay down to a stake, [lay down to a stake: give my life
Before I’d lose the goodwill of that lady.”
“Your life you would rather lay down to a stake,
My parents would say there’s no in to a cloud.” [no in to a cloud: no chance in a lifetime
“A cloud, dearest Polly, I’ll frownd and I’ll stoar, [I’ll frown and I’ll swear
That my father’s a nobleman, gentleman born.”
“If thou art willing, to the church we will ride,
And there we’ll get married brave lady.”
As they was a-riding through meadows so wide,
With their large swords and buckles hung down by their side;
There she met her father with twenty bright men,
And their large glittering swords drawed ready.
“Now then bold keeper, don’t you stand to prattle,
I can see by the way that they means for a battle.”
They cut and they slay on the ground that they stood on,
And the lady held the horse while bold keeper fowght on.
“Now then bold keeper, I pray hold your hand,
You shall have my daughter ten thousand in hand.”
“Oh no, dearest father, that is too small a sum.”
“It’s hold your tongue daughter, this will shall be done;
You shall have your husband, you both shall be as one,